Well, today was my special day! I got fired from my job for giving one (yes, one) injection wrong, and for telling some lady I wasn't trained on how to use an EpiPen. Apparently all of that deems me "unable to safely practice as a nurse" according to them.
And then they had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to work as a scribe with a $15 pay cut. I was SO offended.
How do you guys deal with this? ? I've already applied to new jobs but....IDK. It's just hard to all take in....
Also, I'm pretty sure the lady I told was from the state. Why am I not allowed to be honest with people on things I don't know? Why didn't they just train me, instead of just firing me? I just don't get it. It seems like their goal was to just get rid of me.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
17 minutes ago, JabuJabule said:
Saying this once again, I didn't tell a PATIENT I didn't know how to do it. It was a lady from the state.
Ahhh that definitely explains things better as well. Now I'm curious on specifics as to how the epi pen thing came up with the state representative? Like did she specifically ask you "did you get trained on the epi pen?" or was it more of a "how would you administer an epi pen?" type of question. If it was the second option, that's where your answer should be Joint Commission-like and say "let me check with my resource."
It still sucks that you're going through this and I'm sorry!
Specializes in LTC/Rehab, General Hospital Medical.
I think it was mostly my fault. I brought it up, saying no one was really trained and said it would be nice if there was more training on it just in case.
It just sucks. I'll find a better job. I learned my lesson on being honest. ?♀️
I think it was mostly my fault. I brought it up, saying no one was really trained and said it would be nice if there was more training on it just in case.
It just sucks. I'll find a better job. I learned my lesson on being honest. ?♀️
You shouldn't have been fired for that. I mean, you were pointing out that you (along with others in your facility) weren't trained on how to administer the Epipen without waiting around for someone to go into anaphylaxis to think about it. Your facility should have been thinking of these things anyway. Kind of makes me wonder if any of the remaining staff received this training after you got fired.
I'm sorry you're going through this, but I think you'll have a much better job soon.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I've hit bone a couple of times, but I give a lot of IMs, and I frequently give them to squirmy and skinny people. Pts don't notice when you hit bone, it doesn't hurt more. You notice. You back off the bone and give the IM.
Anyway.
If you were part of a covid vaccination team, and you were giving many vaccines, like all day long, you really should have known how to use an epi pen, if one was available to you in case of anaphylaxis. As far as not going deep enough.... meh... I'm not sure they really could tell that. Unless you were way off and injecting the subQ.
I think you were treated harshly, but not unjustly. It was like harsh justice... if that makes sense. Because you really should have made it your business to at least be able to explain how to give an epi pen... even if you've never done it before. Before giving your first injection you should have read the insert. You have to monitor your patient for 15 minutes after injection for a reaction... so surely you knew anaphylaxis was a possibility. They need someone who is going to give that epi. So yeah... again you're wrong on that count. And the fact that the state caught you means they had to fire you, but its lucky that you didn't run into a problem where a pt died of anaphylaxis because you didn't know how to give epi. That would have been worse.
The part about not going deep enough is just so they can have 2 things to say.
But....
the mRNA covid vaccines (Pfizer, moderna) especially need to get into the muscle... because that's where the spiky protein is built. So its really important to get it into the right spot.
Sorry for the situation you are in. Never feels good to be let go. However, it sounds like it wasn't really a supportive work environment if they were that quick to dismiss you. Good luck to you as you find a better place with more training. Best wishes as this can be a tough situation.
I think it was mostly my fault. I brought it up, saying no one was really trained and said it would be nice if there was more training on it just in case.
It just sucks. I'll find a better job. I learned my lesson on being honest. ?♀️
Just soooo sorry that you got severely nailed. It wasn't the fact that you were being honest, it's that you raised a red flag in front of the State lady. I'm betting your place is doing BIG TIME damage control now.
I think it was mostly my fault. I brought it up, saying no one was really trained and said it would be nice if there was more training on it just in case.
It just sucks. I'll find a better job. I learned my lesson on being honest. ?♀️
I was wondering if you brought this concern up to your leadership? It’s really easy to place blame rather than accept responsibility. If you are BLS certified you should know how to use an EpiPen. BLS = BASIC LIFE SUPPORT. Emphasis on BASIC.
... If you are BLS certified you should know how to use an EpiPen. BLS = BASIC LIFE SUPPORT. Emphasis on BASIC.
While some training centers might opt to include it, epi pen use is not included in the AHA BLS curriculum, this isn't necessarily a correct statement. Nor do all facilities require staff to maintain BLS.
At one facility where I worked, when facility management knew that a med pass was to be observed, they scheduled the professional “med pass” nurse. Worked every time. State inspectors knew her by name.
I used to be that nurse that got to take state on a med pass. The 4th year, state auditor said "I've been with Hoosier every year, even at her PRN facilities. I'll follow that little gal over there." Management about lost it. Little gal did just fine...
I used to be a flu shot nurse. I always felt for where the acromion bone is because you can't alwags tell by looking. I also imagine an upside down triangle a few fingers down from the bone and then I'd give the shot in the middle of it. I have never hit a bone.
I used to be a flu shot nurse. I always felt for where the acromion bone is because you can't alwags tell by looking. I also imagine an upside down triangle a few fingers down from the bone and then I'd give the shot in the middle of it. I have never hit a bone.
When I got my 2nd covid vax, the nurse at the clinic (she was a retiree picking up hours) hit the head of my humerus. It didn't hurt, but all of us in the room could hear it. It was surreal...I heard 3 people say "oh my gawd, you hit a bone", I only thought "duh, that was awful high..."
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JadedCPN, BSN, RN
1,476 Posts
Ahhh that definitely explains things better as well. Now I'm curious on specifics as to how the epi pen thing came up with the state representative? Like did she specifically ask you "did you get trained on the epi pen?" or was it more of a "how would you administer an epi pen?" type of question. If it was the second option, that's where your answer should be Joint Commission-like and say "let me check with my resource."
It still sucks that you're going through this and I'm sorry!